WBAL-TV to launch 10 p.m. newscast with Kate Amara March 5

WBAL-TV, which has seen a drop in its year-to-year news audience, is adding another newscast on its WBAL Plus (digital channel) starting in March.

Baltimore's NBC affiliate will add a 10 p.m. weeknight newscast anchored by Kate Amara on March 5, the station will announce Wednesday.

In October, the station added a 7 a.m. newscast on WBAL Plus. So far, the ratings have been minimal, according to Nielsen data. But Dan Joerres, station general manager, says the newscast is beating some of "the cable channels" in that time period.

"We want to provide an opportunity for news viewers to get our Live, Local, Latebreaking news, an hour earlier," said Dan Joerres, President and General Manager of WBAL-TV. "It is our responsibility to offer viewers local news convenient to their schedules and this newscast does exactly that. WBAL News is everywhere…on-air, online and on-the-go" he added.

WBAL Plus reaches the Baltimore market over the air on channel 11.2, on Comcast channel 208 and on Verizon FiOS channel 460. In addition to our local newscasts throughout the day, WBAL Plus is also home to Dr. Oz, Anderson Cooper and a wide variety of informational, lifestyle and entertainment programming. During football season, WBAL Plus is home to exclusive Ravens programming seven days a week.

“The addition of our 10PM newscast is evidence of WBAL-TV’s commitment to local news coverage. The launch of the 7am newscast on WBAL-Plus was a success this past fall and we anticipate even greater success with the launch of this newscast,” said News Director Michelle Butt.